JOHN EDWARDS WANTS TO SHACK UP WITH RIELLE

With his criminal trial fast approaching, JOHN EDWARDS is desperately trying to make peace with RIELLE HUNTER – his former mistress and mother of his love child – say sources.

The disgraced ex-senator, who once sought the presidency, has even asked the blonde divorcee to move into the palatial North Carolina home he shared with his wife Elizabeth, who fought a heroic but losing battle against breast cancer.

“Rielle is considering the move,” divulged a close source.

“She wants what’s best for their daughter Quinn and John’s other young children.

“If all of them living under one roof will help the kids, it’s something Rielle will do.”

Edwards’ illicit affair with Rielle, 47, and her pregnancy during the 2008 presidential campaign were exposed in a series of blockbuster ENQUIRER exclusives, forcing the womanizing politician to finally admit paternity.

The scandal broke Elizabeth’s heart before she passed away on Dec. 7, 2010.

The affair also sparked legal woes for Edwards. In June, he was indicted by a federal grand jury in North Carolina on six felony charges that he illegally used campaign funds to cover up his extra-marital affair.

The trial is scheduled to be­gin in February, and if convicted, Edwards, 58, faces a maxi­mum 30 years in jail and more than $1 million in fines. He denies doing anything illegal.

Back in June, The ENQUIRER revealed that Edwards was dumped by Rielle only days before he was indicted – and sources said she would testify against him at trial.

At the time, an insider confided that John begged Rielle to marry him, but she “thought that John’s marriage proposal was just another way for him to protect himself.”

She didn’t budge even when he cried: “I don’t want to go to jail,” according to the insider.

But in the months since, John has tried to repair his relationship.

“Rielle knows the trial will be tough and doesn’t want the kids to suffer, so she’s genuinely considering his offer to move into the house.”

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